Expert: Kenton Scott - 3/27/2006

Question
My friend has a forty-one year old King Tempo (I think that's what it is, I'm not sure) trumpet that she recently got repaired.  For the first three years and of having her trumpet she kept saying it was crap, but I said it wasn't; eventually she stopped.  I was just kind of curious to know the true value of her trumpet.  I don't know the serial number (it would be awkward asking).  It's a dark silver color and I think the valve caps were goldish, but she plays baritone for the band now, so I haven't seen her trumpet in a while and can't be sure.  Can you help?
           --JP.

Answer
Hi Jessica,

Well, lets see . . . whats in between crap and valuable?  

The Tempo was introduced in 1964 intended for the advanced student market.  In other words, it is not professional quality but is better than the average student level horns.  

If it is in good repair, it should be a good servicable instrument.  So, it sort of depends on what your friend uses to evaluate the instrument.  If it isn't pretty, that is one thing (though if it is a silverplated horn with no lacquer on it, it might look pretty good if some silver polish was used on it.  If it  doesn't play well, then there probably something out of adjustment, or damaged.  There isn't much on a trumpet that can't be repaired.  

If any brass instrument doesn't play well, (unless it is junk to start with), it almost always has to do with the air not being able to get through the horn efficiently.  That means either restrictions or leaks.  Find where those are and fix them and the horn will play well again.

Hope this answers your question.

Kenton